The Flash-Bang Grenade: It’s all in the name. Used against protesters nationwide, this stun grenade sets off a bright light and an eardrum-busting bang that causes temporary blindness and deafness. In 2014, a SWAT team in Habersham County, Georgia, tore a hole in a baby with one during a drug raid.
Bayonets: These centuries-old weapons were invented in the 17th century. Police used them against civil rights activists. One Alabama sheriff said cops today use the bladed rifle attachments to cut rope and seat belts.
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protection Vehicles (MRAPs): MRAPs are meant for the battlefield. They are protected from bullets and bombs much more than the average truck is.
Helicopters: Police claim to need helicopters to spot fleeing suspects from the skies. But helicopters are also used for “riot control.” In 2020, the ACLU sued the D.C. National Guard for flying them dangerously low over protesters.
Why do police need all this equipment? What is it being used for now? What are the plans for the future? How can it be utilized in projects like Cop City?
No matter what officials say to justify cops acquiring this equipment, we have the right to question it. And the more we know, the more questions we have.